‘It looked like the Matrix’: Passengers describe moment ‘several people hit the roof’ during terrifying turbulence as plane plunged 5,000ft in less than two minutes, injuring several
Allegiant Airlines flight descends from 18,000 feet to 13,000 feet in two minutes A passenger described a flight attendant as ‘like the Matrix’ Were you on the flight? Email newsUS@dailymail.com
A passenger was described by a flight attendant as the moment a ‘Matrix’-like aircraft plunged at around 5,000ft in less than two minutes.
The Allegiant Airlines flight, which took off from Asheville, North Carolina, was traveling at 18,000 feet before descending to about 13,000 feet just 15 minutes before it was scheduled to land.
Two passengers and two flight attendants were taken to hospital and treated for injuries – one employee had a dislocated ankle.
The flight was en route from Asheville, North Carolina to St. Petersburg, Florida when it suddenly lost altitude 15 minutes before landing.
Passenger Lisa Spriggs said: ‘He literally flew through the air – like the Matrix is ​​the only way I can think of to describe it – was there for maybe half a second and then went straight down.’
were you on the flight Email alexander.butler.mol@mailonline.co.uk
The Allegiant Airlines flight, which took off from Asheville, North Carolina, was descending at 18,000 feet before descending to about 13,000 feet in less than two minutes.
Two passengers and two flight attendants were taken to hospital and treated for injuries
Four people were taken to hospital, although the extent of their injuries was not immediately clear. It is not clear if anyone else was injured.
Ms Spriggs also said an attendant and another employee broke their ankles, dislocating the employee’s leg.
Mrs Spriggs added: ‘Thankfully we had medical staff on the flight… they were just helping as best they could.’
‘I’m grateful to be on the ground,’ he added, describing the situation as ‘terrible’. You hear it’s happening, but you don’t expect it to be this bad.’
In a statement to WFLA, Allegiant executives said: ‘Today, Allegiant Flight 227, en route from Asheville, NC to St. Petersburg, FL experienced severe turbulence prior to landing.
‘The aircraft, carrying 179 passengers and six crew members, landed normally and taxied to the gate under its own power.
Ms Spriggs also said an attendant and another employee broke their ankles, dislocating the employee’s leg. Photo: Ambulance outside St. Pete-Clearwater Airport
‘Airport paramedics carried out plans to assess two passengers and two flight attendants for injuries. They were taken to hospital for further evaluation.’
The airline added that it would ‘continue to investigate the incident’ in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board and provide more information as it becomes available.’
A man on board shared how he saw several passengers hit their heads during the turbulent flight before being taken off the plane on stretchers.
Paul Harris told WFLA, ‘All of a sudden there was an explosion and then there was a lot of commotion. ‘The plane looked like it had dropped quite significantly. Several people hit the ceiling, including a woman in my row.’
He added that several overhead bins opened and could not be closed because they were broken.